Electric timepiece

ABSTRACT

An electric timepiece indicates time by numerals which appear in openings provided on a casing surface of the timepiece. A time indicator mechanism includes time indication elements operable every unit of time such as a minute, a 10 minute interval, an hour and so forth. The driving force of a motor operates according to pulse signals applied at given intervals of time is transmitted selectively to the time indicator mechanism through a driving force transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism selectively actuates the time indicator mechanism to advance the minute time indication element at each operation of the motor. An advance mechanism responds to movement of each time indication element to its highest numeral, and constrains the transmission mechanism to selectively actuate the time indicator mechanism so as to advance the next higher order time indication element one step.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Kinjl Terada Toyota, Aichi; Tokuzolnariba, Nishikasugai-gun, Alchi; Atsumu Hiraiwa, Nagoya, Alchi; TakeshiTaniguchi, Fuwa-gun, Gitu, all of, Japan [21] Appli No. 810,560

[22] Filed Mar. 26, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [73] AssigneeKabushlki Keisha Tokai Rika Denlti Selsakusho Nishikasugai-gun, AichiPrefecture, Japan [32] Priority Mar. 29, 1968, June 4, 1968, June 13,

1968, June 13, 1968, July 8, 1968, July 10, 1968, July 10, 1968 [33]Japan 43/57396, 43/58076 and 43/58075 [54] ELECTRIC TIM EPIECE I8(.lulms, l8 Drawing Figs.

[521 (LS. (I 58/6. 58/50 R, 58/23 R, Sit/I25 [Sl| lnl. (II .4 (04h l9/24[51)] Field of Search 58/441, 23,

50, I25 C, 145, I52

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,276,198 10/1966 Barbera58/4 3,352,347 [1/1967 Gates et all 58/6 Primary Examiner-Richard B.Wilkinson Atlorney- McGlew and Toren ABSTRACT: An electric timepieceindicates time by numerals which appear in openings provided on a casingsurface of the timepiece. A time indicator mechanism includes timeindication elements operable every unit of time such as a minute, a H)minute interval, an hour and so forth The driving force ofa motoroperates according to pulse signals applied at given intervals oftime istransmitted selectively to the time indicator mechanism through adriving force transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanismselectively actuates the time indicator mechanism to advance the minutetime indication element at each operation of the motor. An advancemechanism responds to movement ofcach time indication cle men! to itshighest numeral, and constrains the transmission mechanism toselectively actuate the time indicator mechanism so as to advance thenext higher order time indication element one step,

PATENTEU SEP H9?! 3.603.073

xmla'u "rumba MENTOR;

BY 7T,

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP nan 6.5031073 SHEET 2 0F 9 Fig. 2

Fig. 1/ O INVENTORS BY mnsam rams h M M m ATTORNEY 5 PATENTEUSEP mm A3.60307 sum 3 ur 9 ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP nan 3.603.073

sum 5 or 9 wwdmza Arron Me Y5 PATENTED SEP 719m 60?; I 072;

sum 6 or 9 WWMW HTTOR MEYS PATENTEU SEP 7 I97! SHEEI B [If 9 at oneminute interv for two seconds C B A A Pulse signal MOTOR CLUTCH M TIMEINUlCATION wn'u SECTION INDICATOR ELF'CI'RICALLY SECTION SECTIONLUMYNEJCHNT vm'x'rzs FIGURE ADVANCE MECHANISM Potential Source (00. 12v)A potential source for electrically luminescent plates (100v 2500/5) Afigure advance avi to! 08 Fig. 17

OFF

Operation in an axial direction Non-operation A (1186 cm:

A synchronous switch: ON

OFF

An angle of rotation of a drivinfl wheel 0 45 \mmw "FM ATTORNEYSPATEHTED SEP 7 l9?! SHEET 9 OF 9 ATTORNEYS ELECTRIC TIMEPIECE Thepresent invention relates to electric timepieces, particularly forindicating time by numerals which appear in openings provided on acasing surface of the timepiece. The invention relates particularly tosuch timepieces wherein a time indicator mechanism includes timeindication elements operable every unit of time such as a minute, a10-minute interval, an hour and so forth, and wherein the driving forceof a motor which operates according to a pulse signal to be applied at agiven interval of time is transmitted selectively to the time indicatormechanism through a force transmission mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric timepiecewherein operation of the time indicator mechanism is precisely effectedby a motor operating according to a pulse signal which is applied at agiven interval of time by a synchronous motor and so forth, so that theelectric timepiece can operate precisely even in places subject tovibration, for example in an automobile.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrictimepiece wherein a time is indicated with numerals appearing inopenings provided on a casing surface of the timepiece, and saidnumerals are individually advanced intermittently and instantaneouslyupon specific lapses of time and advance of a lower figure to a higheris effected intermittently and instantaneously, so that figures eachrepresenting a unit of time appear regularly in the openings, wherebywhich any one can read a time clearly.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric timepiece wherein endless tapes impressed with a series ofnumerals representing a corresponding unit of time are transferred bytape feed rolls, said plural endless tapes being accommodated withinspaces inevitably formed among respective elements, so that the entiresize of the electric timepiece is greatly minimized.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric timepiece wherein an indication of respective unit of time iseffected by endless tapes with a series of numerals representing eachunit of time impressed thereon, and illumination is applied to saidendless tapes on the reverse side thereof so as to show each of saidnumerals clearly.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric timepiece wherein clutch relays are connected in a row inrelation to each of unit time elements of the time indicator mechanism,said clutch relays being actuated individually or in plurality through afigure advance mechanism according to rotation of the motor and servingto transmit the driving force of the motor selectively to respectiveunit time elements of the indicator mechanism.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric timepiece wherein the indicator mechanism is operatedintermittently by opening or closing a main circuit to the potentialsource, in synchronism with rotation of the motor which operatesaccording to the pulse signal, so that power consumption can beextremely reduced.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric timepiece constructed so, at the time when one operation of theindicator mechanism is finished, the motor is stopped at a givenposition, irrespective of the residual pulse signal, so as to assure theintermittent operation of the indicator mechanism within a period ofpulse signal application, as well as to constantly ensure the exactstart position thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric timepiece wherein clutch relays serving as a transmissionmechanism of a driving force to the time indication mechanism areconnected in parallel in relation to the main electric circuit, figureadvance switches are connected in series in relation to the relays, saidswitches being closed only when the numeral N] (9 for minute units, 5for lO-minute units, 1 l or 23 for hour units) preceding the highestnumeral N for minute units, 6 for 10-minute units, and I2 or 24 for hourunits) of the lower unit of time is advanced, thereby acmating therelays intermittently, and control switches are connected to theelectric circuit including relays for actuating elements of threeadvanced units of time (an hour, if a minute is regarded as a prime orlowest unit of time), the control switches being closed only when therelay for actuating elements of the lower unit of time (the relay forIO-minute elements in this case) is in actuation, thereby eliminating anunnecessary or erroneous advance of the figure.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric timepiece wherein the main electric circuit to the potentialsource is energized or deenergized under control of a cam switch inassociation with rotation of the motor, and the figure advance from thelower unit of time to the higher is effected by switches which close oropen the relay circuit of the higher unit of time, in association withpawl wheels actuating according to an intermittent motion of respectiveunit time elements of the time indicator section, each of whichcorresponds to each of clutch relays connected to the main electriccircuit. At the same time when the cam switch is opened, the highestnumeral of the lower unit of time is advanced to shift the higherfigure, and immediately after that, the switches for figure advance arealso opened, so that contacts of said switches are prevented fromburning loss which may often occur at the time of closing or opening.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric timepiece wherein the highest numeral of hour indication is 12,a relay for shifting a morning or afternoon indication is connected inparallel with a relay for day elements, said relay for shiftingindication of a morning or afternoon operating through the switch foradvancing the hour representing figure to that of a day, and a switch isconnected in series with the relay for day indication elements, saidswitch alternately holding its on or off position according to operationof the relay for shifting a morning or afternoon indication, whereby anindication of morning or afternoon is shifted every 12 hours, while atthe same time, the highest numeral representing an hour is advanced toshift the day indication figure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrictimepiece wherein correction switches tuned into the on or off positionwith one touch are provided, for example, if indication of a primal unitof time, a minute in this case, is wrong, the correction switchconnected to the main electric circuit is closed to correct theerroneous indication, if the higher unit of time is erroneouslyindicated, another correction switch operates to open the circuitincluding the relay for the primal unit of time, and close the electriccircuits including the relay for said unit of time and the motor,thereby correcting individually the erroneous time indication.

In the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of anelectric timepiece according to the present invention;

FIG. I is afront view of an electric timepiece,

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same, shown with a casing removed,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same,

FIG. 4 is a rear side view of the same,

FIG. 5 is a right-side view of the same,

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view, showing a section of timeindicator mechanism, a section of clutch relay mechanism, and a motorsection,

FIG. 7 is a rear side view of the time indicator section,

FIG. 8 is a front view of the clutch relay section,

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the same,

FIG. 10 is a front view of a driving wheel,

FIG. II is a view illustrating an operative relation among a disc cam, across cam and a pawl wheel for figure advance,

FIG. 12 a, b, c are front view of pawl wheels for figure advance,

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an element for shifting an indicationof morning or afternoon,

FIG. 14 is a view showing an operational relation among respectivesections,

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an electric circuit,

FIG. 16 is a detailed diagram of an electric circuit at the motorsection,

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an operative period of time between thefigure advance switches and the synchronous switch, and,

FIG. 18 is an entire diagram incorporated with a corrector circuit witha corrector switches.

The present invention having objects as set forth will be described withreference to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings.

An electric timepiece of the present invention consists, in general ofamotor identified as C in FIGS. 6 and 14, a clutch relay section B, anunit time indicator section A and a figure advance section.

The motor section C serves as a driving part. The latter includes amotor operating according to a pulse signal which is applied thereto atintervals of 1 minute. The clutch relay section B serves as atransmission part which transmits the driving force of the motorselectively to the time indicator section A. The latter includes minuteindicator elements, l-minute indicator elements, hour indicator elementsand day indicator elements and so forth. The unit time indicator sectionA is a time indication part which shows the advance of timeminuteby-minute, in cooperation with the motor section and the clutchrelay section. The figure advance section is a switch systemincorporated into the time indicator section A, which mechanicallycalculates lapses of corresponding units of time, and forms a closedcircuit so as to actuate the clutch relay corresponding to the indicatorelements of the next higher unit of time.

Thus, the time indicator section A consists of the unit time indicatormechanism incorporated with the figure advance switches, with which theclutch relay section B and the motor section C are removably combinedfor convenience of assembly. Both the clutch relay section B and themotor section C comprise mechanical construction in combination withelectric circuits, while the figure advance section mechanicallycontrols switches arranged at these electric circuits.

The entire diagram of the electric circuit is shown in FIG. 15 while theelectric circuit of the motor section C is illus trated in detail inFIG. 16. Now, in FIG. 16, switches S, and S each have a normally closedcontact NC and a normally opened contact NO. If the pulse signal (DC, 12v.) is applied for 2 seconds, a motor I starts and causes one rotationof a driving wheel 2 (FIG. within the period of signal application (2seconds). The driving wheel 2, as seen in FIG. 10 is provided at aninner side surface with an outer circumferential aperture 3 and an innercircumferential slot 4 with a bent shape. Facing the aperture 3 and slot4 are operating pieces 5 and 6 shown in FIG. 4, which serve to close oropen the switches S and S. of FIGS. and 16. The operating piece 5 slidesthrough to a slot provided on a fitting member 7 and an insulating plate8 contained within the motor section C, and has an end in contact withone contact of switch S The operating piece 6 is secured fixedly to themovable contact of the synchronous switch S, provided through theinsulating plate 9 in relation to the fitting member 7. The piece 6 isadapted to be pressed normally in a longitudinal direction of slot bythe action of said contact.

The operating pieces 5 and 6 are maintained at the positions as shown inFIG. 10 just before the initiation of the motor 1. lmmediately when themotor 1 starts and rotates the driving wheel 2, the operating piece 6 isdisplaced from the slot 4 onto a plane surface 10 of the driving wheel 2to close the synchronous switch 5 whereby the main electric circuitconnected to the clutch relay section B is energized. After apredetermined rotation of the driving wheel 2 is finished, the operatingpiece 6 is restored into the slot 4 to open the switch 5,, therebydeenergizing the main electric circuit. Further rotation of the drivingwheel 2 causes the operating piece 5 to enter the aperture 3, andthereby close the synchronous switch 8.. This closes the circuit ofrelay R whereby the movable contacts of switches S, and S, are turnedinto the open position from the normally closed position to cut off theelectric circuit to the motor I while the residual pulse signal is helduntil the motor 1 is stopped after locating the operating pieces 5 and 6in their initial positions.

The clutch relay section B as shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9, and 15 comprises arelay for minute elements a relay R for 10-minute elements R,, a relay Rfor hour elements, and a relay R, for day elements, and clutch plates24, 25, 26 and 27 mounted to said relays R,, R R. and R respectively.These relays are ar# ranged upwardly of a frame member 15 in order suchthat,'at

the leftmost position as seen from the rear side of the timepiece, islocated the relay R, for minute elements. The relay R for day elementsis located adjacent thereto, the relay R for lO-minute elements is next,and at the rightmost position is the relay R, for hour elements. Each ofthe relays has a movable contact 16 with offset ends 17 (FIG. 8)extending to a front portion through slots provided through a bulkhead18. The bulkhead 18 is provided at the front part thereof with anupright portion 20 with transverse slots 21, through which four rods 22slide in a transverse direction. Each of rods 22 passes through betweenoffset ends of each movable contact 16. Each rod has a stopper piece 23fittedly secured thereto adjacent to the offset ends, so that offsetends [7 of each movable contact 16 when they are in an operativeposition, come into abutment with the stopper pieces 23 to move each ofsaid rods 22 in a direction of attraction of movable contact 16, that isto say, in the directions of the arrows p, q, r, and s in FIG. 8.

Downwardly on the frame member 15 of the clutch relay section, fourclutch plates 24, 25, 26 and 27 are each mounted on pivots ll, l2, l3and 14. They are pivotally supported upright by the pivots ll, l2, l3and 14 at their rear portions, in a manner permitting a swingeablemotion at their front portions. This can best be seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and8. Each of said clutch plates 24, 25, 26 and 27 is provided with aconnecting rod 29 extending to another stopper piece 28 of the rod 22,whereby said clutch plates and rods are in operative connection.Accordingly, the motions of said movable contacts in arrow directions p,q, r, and s due to actuation of said relays R R R and R cause the clutchplates to move in rotation in the directions of arrows p, q, r' and s.Each of said clutch plates 24, 25, 26 and 27 has a semicircular cutoutportion 30 formed at the front portion, each of which accommodates abelow-mentioned disc cam, and pins 31 projected inwardly at upper andunder open ends thereof.

Mounted downwardly at a rear portion of the unit time indicator sectionA is a transverse driven shaft 33. The latter has one end to be fixed,in assembling, with a driven wheel 34, with which the driving wheel 2 ofthe motor section C is meshed. Four disc cams 36, 37, 38 and 39 eachhaving a cir cumferential slot 35, are mounted on the shaft 33 atpositions corresponding to those of said clutch plates 24, 25, 26 and27, so as to permit a sliding rotation in a transverse direction withrotation of said driven shaft. The relation between clutch plates anddisc cams is such that, at the time of assembling, pins 31 of each offour clutch plates 24, 25, 26 and 27 face within the circumferentialslot 35 of each of disc cams corresponding to said clutch plates. At thesame time each clutch plate 24, 25, 26 or 27, in its operation, causesrespective disc cams 36, 37, 38 or 39 to move axially during rotation inthe direction of arrows p", q", r" or s", respectively. (See FIG. 7).When clutch plates 24, 25, 26 and 27 are in their nonoperative position,disc earns 36, 37, 38 and 39 are restrained from unnecessary transversemotion, by the action of springs provided around the driven shaft 33.Each of disc earns 36, 37, 38 and 39 is provided at one surface with apro jection 41 adjacent to an outer circumference thereof, and connectedat a central portion thereof to a bulged base portion 42 with a cutout43.

At a lower portion of the sideplate 32 of the time indicator section Aand frontwardly of said driven shaft 33, a fixed sup port shaft 44carries rotatable cross cams 45, 46, 47 and 48. The latter effect agiven angular rotation while in engagement with corresponding disc cams36, 37, 38 and 39 only when said disc cams 36, 37, 38 and 39 are movedtransversely by clutch plates 24, 25, 26 and 27. As shown in FIG. 11each of cross cams 45, 46, 47 and 48 is provided with crosswise slots 49extending radially from a central part to an outer circumferential edgethereof and has four equally spaced pins 50 each provided on one sidesurface. The cross cams are normally maintained out of operativerelation with disc cams 36, 37, 38 and 39, but when disc cams 36, 37, 38and 39 are rotated to move transversely according to motion of clutchplates 24, 25, 26 and 27, the projection 41 of each disc cams is broughtinto engagement with the said crosswise slot 49, so that each of crosscams 45, 46, 47 and 48 is rotated by a quarter every one rotation ofeach disc cam 36, 37, 38 and 39, as shown in FIG. 11.

Cross cams 45, 46, 47 and 48, to which are fixed a drum 51 for minuteelements, a drum 52 for -minute elements and a drum 53 for hourelements, respectively, are operatively associated with a drum 58 for aday elements and a drum 59 for week elements through the intermediary ofa driving gear wheel 54, an idler wheel 55, a driven gear 56 and adriven shaft 57. Thus rotation of each of cross cams 45, 46, 47 and 48causes rotation of each of drums 51, 52, 53, 58 and 59. By the rotationof each drum, pins 60 implanted thereon are respectively brought intoengagement with pin holes 66 provided on respective endless tapes fortime indication 61, 62, 63 and 64 and another endless tape for weekindication 65, whereby each of said endless tapes 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65is moved continually and exactly by a given distance to show respectiveunit of time in each of openings 67, 68, 69, 70 and 71.

Each of the time indication tapes 61, 62, 63, 64 and the week indicationtape 65 are formed endlessly with white numeral patterns 72 on ablackground.

A minute indication tape 61 with a comparatively shorter length isarranged over roll 76 on transverse shaft 75 provided rearwardly of thedriven shaft 33, from said driven shaft 33, about upper and under rolls78 mounted on transverse support shafts 77 arranged frontwardly of theunit time indicator section A. The 10-minute indication tape 62 and hourindication tape 63 each have a length slightly longer than the minuteindication tape 61. They are arranged like the minute indication tape,but also about rolls 80 mounted on a support shaft 79 arranged withinthe motor section C. The week indication tape 65 located upwardly isarranged between the drum 59 and rolls 82 carried by support shafts 81.The day indication tape 64 is longest and arranged in a zigzag pathabout a number of rolls 84 of a roll group 83.

Each of drums 51, 52, 53, 58 and 59 is provided upwardly and downwardlywith a tape holder 85. Behind each of openings 67, 68, 69, 70 and 71there is provided an electric luminescent plate. Each of the timeindication tapes is fed between the luminescent tape and the opening. Anelectric circuit to the relay for four elements includes a solenoid R,which is actuated one time every l2 hours, by means of the figureadvance mechanism, and has a movable contact 86. This appears in detailin FIG. 13. A cam 88 is provided integrally with a pawl wheel 87 whichis advanced one pawl by the movable contact 86, so as to movealternately upwardly or downwardly a lever 90 of a plate 89 for morningor afternoon indication. Thereby an indication of morning or afternoonin an opening 91 is shifted every l2 hours. The cam 88 operates a switchS consisting of two resilient plates, which holds the on or off positionalternately every 12 hours.

Pawl wheels 92, 93 and 94 (FIGS. 5, l1 and 12) secured adjacent to crosscams 45, 46 and 47 respectively for minute elements, lO-minute elementsand hour elements. At every lapse of unit time, the pawl wheels 92, 93and 94 actuate to close figure advance switches 5 S and S Each switch SS and S, is arranged intermediarily between circuits including relaysactuating higher figures, thereby advancing respective figures from thelower unit of time to the higher. In detail, the respective pawl wheels92, 93, and 94 carried by the transverse support shaft 95 are arrangedrotatably in relation to respective cross cams 45, 46 and 47 carried bythe support shaft 44 provided rearwardly of the shaft at the lower partof the time indicator section in such manner that the pawl wheel 92 forminute elements corresponds to the cross cam 45 for minute elements, thepawl wheel 93 for lO-minute elements to the cross cam 46 for lO-minuteselements, and the pawl wheel 94 for hour elements to the cross cam 47for hour elements. As seen in FIG. 12, the pawl wheel 92 for minuteelements is provided with 10 equally spaced circumferential teeth 96 and[0 equally spaced circumferential cavities 97 including one conductivecavity 98, with which the figure advance switch S, consisting of tworesilient plates makes contact, as the pawl wheel is moved. The pawlwheel 92 is rotated by one tooth every quarter rotation of the cross cam45, by the pin 50 thereof, and actuates to close the electric circuit ofthe relay R, for lO-minute elements, every 10 minutes, since the tworesilient plates of the switch S, are brought into contact with theconductive cavity 98 every l0 minutes, whereby the figure representingthe primal unit of time is advanced to the higher figure.

The pawl wheel 93 is provided with 12 circumferential teeth 96 having l2cavities including two conductive cavities and effects one rotationevery 2 hours, during which said pawl wheel 93 conducts to close theelectric circuit of the relay for hour elements R every 60 minutes. Thepawl wheel 94 is provided with 12 circumferential teeth 96 and 12cavities including one conductive cavity 98. Every 12 hours the pawlwheel 94 actuates the solenoid R. for morning and afternoon indicationarranged at the electric circuit of the relay R, for hour elements. Inthis case, the pawl wheels 92, 93 and 94 are maintained stationary andkept from being unexpectedly actuated, since two resilient plates ofeach of switches S S and S, are in contact therewith.

At a base plate portion 99 (FIG. 7) of the time indication section andwithin the range of motion of the under portions of the clutch plates 25and 26 (FIG. 6) for l0-minutes elements and hour elements, controlswitches S, and S are incorporated. These are arranged to close at thetime of actuation of the clutch plates 25 and 26, so that unnecessary orer roneous figure advance is prevented.

in the electric timepiece having the construction as describedhereinabove, when pulse signals are applied at 1- minute intervals, thedriving wheel 2 intermittently effects one rotation at intervals of 1minute, and substantially in synchronism therewith, the synchronousswitch S is closed to actuate the relay for minute elements R,. Andthen, the cross cam 45 is rotated by a quarter, by the motor 1 and therelay R for minute elements in cooperation with each other, to move theminute indication tape 61 instantaneously a given distance. Thus acorrect time is indicated intermittently and instantaneouslyminute-by-minute. it is the matter of course that the pawl wheel 92 forminute elements is rotated every one tooth per minute. The highestnumeral N at a minute indication tape is 10. Just before the numeral N-l(9 in this case) is shifted to the advanced figure, in other words, justbefore the cross cam for minute elements 45 is going to stop itsrotation after it has been revolved by a given distance to display thenumeral 9 impressed on the minute indication tape 61 on the opening 67,the pawl wheel 92 which has been in rotation by the pin 50 of the crosscam 45 is brought its conductive cavity 98 into contact with the switch5,. This closes the electric circuit of the relay R, for 10-minuteelements R Consequently, when the next pulse signal is applied, bothrelays for minute elements and lO-minute elements R and R are actuatedsynchronously to advance the figures representing a minute and 10minutes to the higher figures, respectively. Thus, numerals which appearon the openings 87 and 88 are advanced to the next synchronously.

The driving wheel 2, the synchronous switch 5,, disc cams 36, 37 and 38and figure advance switches S S and S are in an operational relation asshown in FIG. 17.

As seen from the drawing, the disc cams 36, 37 and 38 are mechanicallymaintained in an axial motion after the synchronous switch 5, is openedto release these disc cams from the compulsory motion in the axialdirection to the the relays R,, R and R and the cross cams 45, 46 and 47are maintained in a slight rotation. During the period, the figureadvance switches S 5, and S, are closed or opened. It should be notedthat the figure advance switches S S, and S; are always closed alwaysprior to closing of the synchronous switch 8,, and are always open afterthe synchronous switch 5,, has been opened. This advantageously preventscontacts of switches S,,, S, and S, from being damaged due to burningout.

The figure advance from a minutes to an hour, and from an hour to a dayis effected in the same way as in that from a minute to a 10 minute.However, since the hour elements are adapted to effect one cyclicalmotion every l2 hours, the solenoid R, for shifting indication ofmorning or afternoon is arranged in parallel in relation to the relay Rfor day elements, and a switch S, which holds the on or off positionevery actuation of the solenoid for shifting morning or afternoonindication R is connected in series to the relay for day elements Rwhereby while indication of morning or afternoon is shifted every 12hours, the hour representing figure is advanced to the higher figure, iethe day figure.

ln such operation of the figure advance switches, during the period whenthe figure is going to be advanced from the l0 minute to the hour, therelay for hour elements R, connected in parallel in relation to thepotential source will be actuated times, unless the control switch S isnot incorporated.

For the purpose of eliminating an unnecessary actuation of the relay R,the control switch S, is connected in series in relation to the figureadvance switch 8-,. The switch S is adapted to be closed only when therelay R, for the 10 minute elements is actuated so that figuresrepresenting respective unit of time are advanced synchronously inparallelism with each other. For example, when the time is l oclock and48 minutes, and the pulse signal is applied, the time will be l oclockand 49 minutes. At this time, the switch S is closed to advance thefigure which represents a minute, as well as the figure which represents10 minutes, at the time of application of the subsequent pulse signal,whereby the time becomes 1 o'clock and 50 minutes. Then, the switch S isclosed to advance the figure from a l0 minute to the higher. lf thecontrol switch S is not incorporated, an hour indicating numeral will beerroneously advanced. For example, from 2 o'clock 51 minutes to 3 oclockand 52 minutes by application of a subsequent pulse signal. Forpreventing such erroneous advance of an hour indicating numeral, thecontrol switch S is adapted to be closed only when the relay forlO-minute elements is in actuation, as set forth, whereby the timeindication is exactly and orderly effected in such a way as l o'clockand 5l minutes, 1 o'clock and 52 minutes and 1 o'clock and 59 minutes.At the next moment, that is, when the highest numeral of the minuteindication tape is advanced, the relay for lO-minute elements actuatesto close the control switch 8,, so that both the lO-minute indicatingnumeral and the minute indication numeral are advanced at one time,whereby the exact time, in this case 2 o'clock, is indicated. Thecontrol switch S arranged at the electric circuit which connects thehour elements with the day elements operates similarly as describedhereinabove.

Correction or adjustment of time indication in the electric timepieceaccording to the present invention is effected electrically by closingor opening corrector switches S S 8,, and S (FIG. 18) provided at themain electric circuit to the motor or intermediarily at the mean circuitconnecting the relays actuating the higher unit time elements and themotor. As an alternative, it may be effected mechanically by screws 98and 99 in mesh with drums for time indication tapes,

The diagram of electric circuits incorporated with corrector switches isshown in FIG. 18. These corrector switches include the switch S, forcorrecting a minute indication S the switch S for correcting a 10-minuteindication, the switch S for correcting an hour indication and theswitch 8,, for correcting an indication of morning or afternoon.

An erroneous minute indication is corrected by closing the normallyopened switch 8,, provided at the main electric circuit to the motor I,an erroneous indication at a 10 minute is corrected by closing thecomposite switch S including the normally opened switch S a to the motor1 connected to the main electric circuit, the normally opened switch S bto the relay for 10-minute elements R and the normally closed switch S cto the relay for minute elements R each of which is synchronously closedor opened. The erroneous hour indication is corrected by one operationof the composite switch S including the normally opened switch S a tothe motor at the main electric circuit, the normally opened switch S tothe relay for hour elements R. and the normally closed switch S c to therelay for minute elements R each of which is closed or openedsynchronously.

Correction of a morning or afternoon indication is effected by closingthe switch 8,, of the solenoid R,,, since it has no relation withrotation of the motor 1.

An erroneous indication of a day or a day of week is made mechanicallyby turning, with a driver or the like, the screws 98 and 99, each ofwhich is in meshed relation with each toothed wheel of the drum for dayelements 58 and the drum for the week elements 59.

The electric timepiece of the present invention having such constructionas described hereinabove can attain objects as set forth in foregoingpassages.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric timepiece comprising a plurality of indication means fordisplaying time digitally, each of said indication means exhibiting agroup of characters, the characters of each group representing timelengths of magnitudes different from the magnitudes of characters in theother groups, motor means operating intermittently in response to pulsesignals to be applied at given intervals, a plurality of clutch relaymeans each associated with a different one of the time units and eachbeing responsive to the operation of said motor means, indicator movingmeans for intermittently and instantaneously moving selected ones ofsaid indication means a predetermined distance in response tocooperative operation of said motor means and the ones of said relaymeans associated with the same time lengths as the selected ones of saidindication means, figure-advance means responding to said indicatormoving means for actuating said clutch relay means on the basis of theoperation of said indicator moving means, whereby said indication meansmay indicate a time in openings provided on a casing about thetimepiece.

2. An electric timepiece comprising a motor operating ac cording topulse signals to be applied at given intervals, a plurality of clutchrelays each responsive to operation of said motor and each associatedwith one of a plurality of respective time lengths of different.magnitudes, a figure-advance mechanism, a time indicator mechanism, aplurality of indication means each having a series of characters thereonto indicate units respective time lengths, said indicator mechanismhaving moving means for moving selected ones of said indica tion meansintermittently and instantaneously a predeter mined distance in responseto operation of said motor and clutch relays in cooperative relationwith each other, said figure-advance mechanism having actuating meansresponding to said moving means for actuating selected ones of saidclutch relays on the basis of the operation of said moving means, clutchplates in said clutch relays each including a bent-shaped cutout portionwith pins extending inwardly thereof and pivoting means for permitting aswingeable motion of the first part thereof, a driven shaft responsiveto said motor, a plurality of disc cams each having a circumferentialslot and an offset pin at one side surface thereof, said cams each beingmounted on said shaft to rotate with said shaft and to permit slidingmotion in an axial direction, said disc cams being arranged in alignmentwith respective ones of said clutch plates, each of said clutch platesengaging their pins with the circumferential slot of each disc cam toeffect axial movement of said disc cams during rotation of said disccams.

driven wheels each having radial slots arranged to be freely rotatableadjacent to said disc cams, each of said driven wheels beingintermittently revolved by one of said offset pins when said offset pinis brought into engagement with one of said radial slots as said disccarns effect an axially sliding motion, a plurality of drums responsiveto said driven wheels and moved intermittently, said indication meansengaging said drums for responding thereto.

3. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clutchrelay means each comprise a relay coil for actuating respective timeelements, said coils being arranged in a row at a substantially equalspacing, a frame member supporting said relay means, and clutch platescorresponding to said relay coils arranged in a row at unequal spacings,each of said clutch plates having a front and rear portion and beingpivoted at its rear portion relative to the frame member for permittingthe front portion to swing in a direction transverse to the axis of thepivot, said relay means having movable contacts responsive to saidcoils, said clutch plates being moved by action of movable contacts,said relay coils being actuated by the motor, said clutch plates beingarranged for transmitting the driving force to the time indicationmechanism.

4. An electric timepiece, comprising a motor operating according topulse signals to be applied at given intervals, a plurality of clutchrelays each responsive to the operation of said motor and eachassociated with one of a plurality of respective time elements, a timeindicator mechanism, a plurality of indication means each having aseries of numerals impressed thereon to indicate respective units oftime, said indicator mechanism having moving means for moving selectedones of said indication means intermittently and instantaneously over apredetermined distance in response to operation of said motor and clutchrelays in cooperative relation with each other, a figure-advancemechanism, said figure-advance mechanism having actuating meansresponding to said moving means for actuating means selected ones ofsaid clutch relays on the basis of the operation of said moving means,said indicator mechanism including a plurality of endless tapes eachexhibiting a series of characters representing respective units of timeand having pin holes, said indicator mechanism further including aplurality of drums for carrying said endless tapes and having pinsengageable with said pin holes of respective endless tapes.

5. An electric timepiece, comprising a motor operating according topulse signals to be applied at given intervals, a plurality of clutchrelays each responsive to operation of said motor and each associatedwith one of a plurality of respective time lengths, a figure-advancemechanism, time indicator mechanism, a plurality of indication meanseach having a series of characters thereon to indicate units ofrespective time lengths, said indicator mechanism having moving meansfor moving selected ones of said indication means intermittently andinstantaneously a predetermined distance in response to operation ofsaid motor and clutch relays in cooperative relation with each other,said figure-advance mechanism having actuating means responding to saidmoving means for actuating selected ones of said clutch relays on thebasis of the operation of said moving means, switch means responding tothe motor, a main electric circuit responsive to said switch means forenergizing the relays, said switch means responding to rotation of themotor to open immediately after on e cyclical operation of said motor,and second switch means responsive to the rotation of the motor forcutting off the pulse signals applied to the motor after a predeterminedmotor rotation and including relay means for keeping the motor cut offfrom the signals to the end of each signal.

6. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 5, wherein said secondswitch means comprises a relay switch and a disc cam operating saidswitch, said switch being connected to the motor in parallel relation tothe main electric circuit, said second switch means including a motorrelay connected in series with said relay switch and a plurality ofcontrol switches connected in series with the motor and magneticallyactuated by said motor relay, said relay switch being closedinstantaneously every predetermined rotation of the disc cam to actuatethe motor relay, said control switches being set to be turned by themotor relay into the off position to cutoff the electric circuit to thepotential source of the motor, and circuit means in said second switchmeans to maintain the motor relay in actuation.

7. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 5, wherein said secondswitch means includes a relay switch and a disc cam operating said relayswitch, said relay switch being connected in parallel relation to theelectric circuit to the signal source for the motor, said second switchmeans including a motor relay connected in series with said relay switchand a plurality of control switches each connected in series with apositive side and negative side of the signal source of the motor so asto actuate said motor relay, said relay switch being closedinstantaneously every predetermined rotation of the disc cam to actuatethe motor relay, said control switches being set to be turned by themotor relay into the off position to cut off the potential source to themotor, thereby restraining electrical rotation of the motor, and saidsecond circuit means including holding circuit responsive to saidcontrol switches for holding said relay until the end of each of thesignals.

8. An electric timepiece, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said secondswitch means comprises a relay switch and a disc cam operating saidrelay switch and connected in parallel in relation to the main electriccircuit to the signal source to the motor, said second switch meansfurther including a motor relay connected in series with said switch andcontrol switches connected in series with the motor and operated by saidmotor relay, said relay switch being closed instantaneously everypredetermined rotation of disc cam to actuate the motor relay, saidcontrol switches being turned by said motor relay to cut off the signalsource to the motor, said circuit means forming with said controlswitches a holding circuit for said relay, said first switch meansincluding a synchronous switch associated with said disc cam foroperating the indicator mechanism during rotation of the motor.

9. An electric timepiece comprising a motor operating according to pulsesignals to be applied at given intervals, a plu rality of clutch relayseach responsive to operation of said motor and each associated with oneof a plurality of respective time elements of ascending order, afigure-advance mechanism, a time indicator mechanism, a pluralityofindication means each having series of N numerals thereon to indicateunits of respective time elements, said indicator mechanism havingmoving means for moving selected ones of said indication meansintermittently and instantaneously a predetermined distance in responseto operation of said motor and clutch relays in cooperative relationwith each other, said figure-advance mechanism having actuating meansresponding to said moving means for actuating selected ones of saidclutch relays on the basis of the operation of said moving means, inmoving selected ones of said indication means, a main electric circuit,said relays for respective time elements being connected in parallel inthe main electric circuit, said actuating means having a plurality ofadvancing switches responsive to said moving means and serving foractuating a clutch relay of a higher tune element in response to saidmoving means moving the indication means that exhibits units of the nextlower time element and being connected in series in relation to aplurality of said relays for respective time ele ments, said relay forthe lowest element of time being connected directly into the mainelectric circuit, said switches being closed by said moving means onlywhen the numeral N-l lesser than the highest numeral N of a lowerelement of time is advanced into the higher numeral, said figure-advancemeans having additional switches responsive to said clutch relays andclosed only at the time of energization of the relays for lower timeelements, said additional switches being connected in series to therelays for time elements higher than the lowest two.

10. An electric timepiece comprising a motor operating according topulse signals to be applied at given intervals, a plurality of clutchrelays each responsive to operation of said motor and each associatedwith one of a plurality of respective time elements of ascending order,a figure-advance mechanism, a time indicator mechanism, a plurality ofindication means each having a series of numerals impressed thereon toindicate respective units of time, said indicator mechanism havingmoving means for moving selected ones of said indication meansintermittently and instantaneously by a predetermined distance inresponse to operation of said motor and clutch relays in cooperativerelation with each other. said figure-advance mechanism having actuatingmeans responding to said moving means for actuating selected ones ofsaid clutch relays on the basis of the operation of said moving means inmoving selected ones of said indication means, a main electric circuitfor connection to a potential source, said electric circuit beingoperable under control of a plurality of first switches in associationwith rotation of the motor, said moving means including a plurality ofpawl wheels each associated with one of the time elements and advancemeans responsive to operation of said clutch relays for advancing eachof said pawl wheels for each operation of said clutch relay associatedwith the same time element, said figure-advance means including aplurality of pawl switches, a conductive member on each of said pawlwheels for actuating said pawl switches in response to a predeterminedrotation of each of said pawl wheels; said figureadvance mechanismforming with said pawl switches control circuit means for actuating, inresponse to operation of one of said pawl switches of one time element,the clutch relay associated with the time element of the next higherorder, whereby for each closing of a pawl switch of one time element thepawl of the next higher time element is advanced; said figure-advancingmeans including a feed mechanism attached to respective ones of saidpawl wheels for advancing said indicator mechanism.

1!. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of saidpawl wheel has a plurality of teeth and a series of cavities including acavity lined with a conductive material, said pawl switches eachincluding two resilient plates having projections which are brought intocontact with said conductive material as said pawl wheels are rotated.

12. An electric timepiece comprising a motor operating according to apulse signal to be applied at a given interval, a plurality of clutchrelays each responsive to operation of said motor and each associatedwith one of a plurality of respective time elements, said time elementsbeing minutes, -minute units, hours and days, a figure-advancemechanism, a time indicator mechanism, a plurality of indication meanseach having series of numerals thereon to indicate respective units oftime, said indicator mechanism having moving means for moving selectedones of said indication means intermittently and instantaneously apredetermined distance in response to operation of said motor and saidclutch relays in cooperative relation with each other, saidfigure-advance mechanism having actuating means responding to saidmoving means for actuating selected ones of said clutch relays on thebasis of the operation of said moving means in moving selected ones ofsaid indication means, said figure-advance mechanism including aplurality of switch means each corresponding to one of said timeelements and each connected to one of said clutch relays for actuatingthe one of said clutch relays corresponding to the next higher timeelement and said time indicator means, said figure-advance mechanismincluding advancing means responsive to said moving means for actuatingeach of said switch means once each time the moving means for ac tuatingeach of said switch means once each time the moving means senses thatthe clutch relay corresponding to the same time element has operated anumber of times equal to the next higher time element, the highestnumeral for the hour indication being l2, said figure-advance mechanismincluding a shift relay for shifting between indications of morning andafter noon bein connected in parallel with said relay for days, saidrelay for ays being actuated through said switch means cor responding tothe hours, said figure-advance mechanism in cluding shift switch meansin series with said relay for days, said shift switch means being heldalternately its on and off position in association with said relay formorning or afternoon indications,

13. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 12, wherein said shiftrelay for a morning and afternoon indication comprises a shifting pawlwheel arranged to operate rotatably and a shift cam secured to said pawlwheel, said shift switch being engaged to said shift cam to be heldalternately an open and closed position.

14. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicationmeans includes indication plates, indication tapes with the numerals,and illumination means having an electroluminescent material provided ata reverse side of said indication plates; a transparent portion on eachof said indication tapes, said plates, tapes and illumination meansbeing aligned one behind the other.

15. An electric timepiece comprising a motor operating according topulse signals to be applied at given intervals, a plurality of clutchrelays each responsive to operation of said motor and each associatedwith one of a plurality of respective unit time elements, afigure-advance mechanism, a time in dicator mechanism, a plurality ofindication means having a series of characters thereon to indicaterespective units of time said indicator mechanism having moving meansfor mov ing selected ones of said indication means intermittently andinstantaneously a predetermined distance in response to operation ofsaid motor and clutch relays in cooperative relation with each other,said figure-advance mechanism having actuating means responding to saidmoving means for actuating selected ones of said clutch relays on thebasis of the operation of said moving means in moving selected ones ofsaid indication means, said time indication means including endlesstapes each having the numerals thereon in a series, said indicationmeans having means for illuminating said endless tapes at their reversesides.

16. An electric timepiece comprising a motor operating according topulse signals to be applied at given intervals, a plurality of clutchrelays each responsive to operation of said motor and each associatedwith one of a plurality of respective time elements, said time elementsbeing minutes, lO-minute units, hours and days, a figure-advancemechanism, a time indicator mechanism, a plurality of indication meanshaving a series of numerals impressed thereon to indicate meansrespective units of time, said indicator mechanism having means forselecting and moving said indication means intermittently andinstantaneously a predetermined distance in response to operation bysaid motor and clutch relays in cooperative relation with said eachother, said figure-advance mechanism having actuating means respondingto said moving means for actuating selected ones of said clutch relayson the basis of the operation of said moving means in moving selectedones of said indication means, a plurality of corrector switches inseries with said clutch relays for advancing said clutch relays andthereby correcting erroneous indication of corresponding time.

17. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said figureadvance meansenables the clutch relay means associated with time length magnitudegreater than the lowest magnitude in response to said moving meansadvancing said indication means of the next lower magnitude to apredetermined character.

18. A timepiece as claimed in claim 17, wherein said predeterminedcharacter is the highest of the time units of that magnitude,

1. An electric timepiece comprising a plurality of indication means fordisplaying time digitally, each of said indication means exhibiting agroup of characters, the characters of each group representing timelengths of magnitudes different from the magnitudes of characters in theother groups, motor means operating intermittently in response to pulsesignals to be applied at given intervals, a plurality of clutch relaymeans each associated with a different one of the time units and eachbeing responsive to the operation of said motor means, indicator movingmeans for intermittently and instantaneously moving selected ones ofsaid indication means a predetermined distance in response tocooperative operation of said motor means and the ones of said relaymeans associated with the same time lengths as the selected ones of saidindication means, figure-advance means responding to said indicatormoving means for actuating said clutch relay means on the basis of theoperation of said indicator moving means, whereby said indication meansmay indicate a time in openings provided on a casing about thetimepiece.
 2. An electric timepiece comprising a motor operatingaccording to pulse signals to be applied at given intervals, a pluralityof clutch relays each responsive to operation of said motor and eachassociated with one of a plurality of reSpective time lengths ofdifferent magnitudes, a figure-advance mechanism, a time indicatormechanism, a plurality of indication means each having a series ofcharacters thereon to indicate units respective time lengths, saidindicator mechanism having moving means for moving selected ones of saidindication means intermittently and instantaneously a predetermineddistance in response to operation of said motor and clutch relays incooperative relation with each other, said figure-advance mechanismhaving actuating means responding to said moving means for actuatingselected ones of said clutch relays on the basis of the operation ofsaid moving means, clutch plates in said clutch relays each including abent-shaped cutout portion with pins extending inwardly thereof andpivoting means for permitting a swingeable motion of the first partthereof, a driven shaft responsive to said motor, a plurality of disccams each having a circumferential slot and an offset pin at one sidesurface thereof, said cams each being mounted on said shaft to rotatewith said shaft and to permit sliding motion in an axial direction, saiddisc cams being arranged in alignment with respective ones of saidclutch plates, each of said clutch plates engaging their pins with thecircumferential slot of each disc cam to effect axial movement of saiddisc cams during rotation of said disc cams, driven wheels each havingradial slots arranged to be freely rotatable adjacent to said disc cams,each of said driven wheels being intermittently revolved by one of saidoffset pins when said offset pin is brought into engagement with one ofsaid radial slots as said disc cams effect an axially sliding motion, aplurality of drums responsive to said driven wheels and movedintermittently, said indication means engaging said drums for respondingthereto.
 3. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidclutch relay means each comprise a relay coil for actuating respectivetime elements, said coils being arranged in a row at a substantiallyequal spacing, a frame member supporting said relay means, and clutchplates corresponding to said relay coils arranged in a row at unequalspacings, each of said clutch plates having a front and rear portion andbeing pivoted at its rear portion relative to the frame member forpermitting the front portion to swing in a direction transverse to theaxis of the pivot, said relay means having movable contacts responsiveto said coils, said clutch plates being moved by action of movablecontacts, said relay coils being actuated by the motor, said clutchplates being arranged for transmitting the driving force to the timeindication mechanism.
 4. An electric timepiece, comprising a motoroperating according to pulse signals to be applied at given intervals, aplurality of clutch relays each responsive to the operation of saidmotor and each associated with one of a plurality of respective timeelements, a time indicator mechanism, a plurality of indication meanseach having a series of numerals impressed thereon to indicaterespective units of time, said indicator mechanism having moving meansfor moving selected ones of said indication means intermittently andinstantaneously over a predetermined distance in response to operationof said motor and clutch relays in cooperative relation with each other,a figure-advance mechanism, said figure-advance mechanism havingactuating means responding to said moving means for actuating meansselected ones of said clutch relays on the basis of the operation ofsaid moving means, said indicator mechanism including a plurality ofendless tapes each exhibiting a series of characters representingrespective units of time and having pin holes, said indicator mechanismfurther including a plurality of drums for carrying said endless tapesand having pins engageable with said pin holes of respective endlesstapes.
 5. An electric timepiece, comprising a motor operating accordingto pulse signals to be applied at given intervals, a plurality of clutchrelays each responsive to operation of said motor and each associatedwith one of a plurality of respective time lengths, a figure-advancemechanism, time indicator mechanism, a plurality of indication meanseach having a series of characters thereon to indicate units ofrespective time lengths, said indicator mechanism having moving meansfor moving selected ones of said indication means intermittently andinstantaneously a predetermined distance in response to operation ofsaid motor and clutch relays in cooperative relation with each other,said figure-advance mechanism having actuating means responding to saidmoving means for actuating selected ones of said clutch relays on thebasis of the operation of said moving means, switch means responding tothe motor, a main electric circuit responsive to said switch means forenergizing the relays, said switch means responding to rotation of themotor to open immediately after on e cyclical operation of said motor,and second switch means responsive to the rotation of the motor forcutting off the pulse signals applied to the motor after a predeterminedmotor rotation and including relay means for keeping the motor cut offfrom the signals to the end of each signal.
 6. An electric timepiece asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said second switch means comprises a relayswitch and a disc cam operating said switch, said switch being connectedto the motor in parallel relation to the main electric circuit, saidsecond switch means including a motor relay connected in series withsaid relay switch and a plurality of control switches connected inseries with the motor and magnetically actuated by said motor relay,said relay switch being closed instantaneously every predeterminedrotation of the disc cam to actuate the motor relay, said controlswitches being set to be turned by the motor relay into the off positionto cut off the electric circuit to the potential source of the motor,and circuit means in said second switch means to maintain the motorrelay in actuation.
 7. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 5,wherein said second switch means includes a relay switch and a disc camoperating said relay switch, said relay switch being connected inparallel relation to the electric circuit to the signal source for themotor, said second switch means including a motor relay connected inseries with said relay switch and a plurality of control switches eachconnected in series with a positive side and negative side of the signalsource of the motor so as to actuate said motor relay, said relay switchbeing closed instantaneously every predetermined rotation of the disccam to actuate the motor relay, said control switches being set to beturned by the motor relay into the off position to cut off the potentialsource to the motor, thereby restraining electrical rotation of themotor, and said second circuit means including holding circuitresponsive to said control switches for holding said relay until the endof each of the signals.
 8. An electric timepiece, as claimed in claim 5,wherein said second switch means comprises a relay switch and a disc camoperating said relay switch and connected in parallel in relation to themain electric circuit to the signal source to the motor, said secondswitch means further including a motor relay connected in series withsaid switch and control switches connected in series with the motor andoperated by said motor relay, said relay switch being closedinstantaneously every predetermined rotation of disc cam to actuate themotor relay, said control switches being turned by said motor relay tocut off the signal source to the motor, said circuit means forming withsaid control switches a holding circuit for said relay, said firstswitch means including a synchronous switch associated with said disccam for operating the indicator mechanism during rotation of the motor.9. An electric timepiece comprising a motor operating according to pulsesignals to be applied at Given intervals, a plurality of clutch relayseach responsive to operation of said motor and each associated with oneof a plurality of respective time elements of ascending order, afigure-advance mechanism, a time indicator mechanism, a plurality ofindication means each having series of N numerals thereon to indicateunits of respective time elements, said indicator mechanism havingmoving means for moving selected ones of said indication meansintermittently and instantaneously a predetermined distance in responseto operation of said motor and clutch relays in cooperative relationwith each other, said figure-advance mechanism having actuating meansresponding to said moving means for actuating selected ones of saidclutch relays on the basis of the operation of said moving means, inmoving selected ones of said indication means, a main electric circuit,said relays for respective time elements being connected in parallel inthe main electric circuit, said actuating means having a plurality ofadvancing switches responsive to said moving means and serving foractuating a clutch relay of a higher tune element in response to saidmoving means moving the indication means that exhibits units of the nextlower time element and being connected in series in relation to aplurality of said relays for respective time elements, said relay forthe lowest element of time being connected directly into the mainelectric circuit, said switches being closed by said moving means onlywhen the numeral N-1 lesser than the highest numeral N of a lowerelement of time is advanced into the higher numeral, said figure-advancemeans having additional switches responsive to said clutch relays andclosed only at the time of energization of the relays for lower timeelements, said additional switches being connected in series to therelays for time elements higher than the lowest two.
 10. An electrictimepiece comprising a motor operating according to pulse signals to beapplied at given intervals, a plurality of clutch relays each responsiveto operation of said motor and each associated with one of a pluralityof respective time elements of ascending order, a figure-advancemechanism, a time indicator mechanism, a plurality of indication meanseach having a series of numerals impressed thereon to indicaterespective units of time, said indicator mechanism having moving meansfor moving selected ones of said indication means intermittently andinstantaneously by a predetermined distance in response to operation ofsaid motor and clutch relays in cooperative relation with each other,said figure-advance mechanism having actuating means responding to saidmoving means for actuating selected ones of said clutch relays on thebasis of the operation of said moving means in moving selected ones ofsaid indication means, a main electric circuit for connection to apotential source, said electric circuit being operable under control ofa plurality of first switches in association with rotation of the motor,said moving means including a plurality of pawl wheels each associatedwith one of the time elements and advance means responsive to operationof said clutch relays for advancing each of said pawl wheels for eachoperation of said clutch relay associated with the same time element,said figure-advance means including a plurality of pawl switches, aconductive member on each of said pawl wheels for actuating said pawlswitches in response to a predetermined rotation of each of said pawlwheels; said figure-advance mechanism forming with said pawl switchescontrol circuit means for actuating, in response to operation of one ofsaid pawl switches of one time element, the clutch relay associated withthe time element of the next higher order, whereby for each closing of apawl switch of one time element the pawl of the next higher time elementis advanced; said figure-advancing means including a feed mechanismattached to respective ones of said pawl wheels for advancing saidindicator Mechanism.
 11. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 10,wherein each of said pawl wheel has a plurality of teeth and a series ofcavities including a cavity lined with a conductive material, said pawlswitches each including two resilient plates having projections whichare brought into contact with said conductive material as said pawlwheels are rotated.
 12. An electric timepiece comprising a motoroperating according to a pulse signal to be applied at a given interval,a plurality of clutch relays each responsive to operation of said motorand each associated with one of a plurality of respective time elements,said time elements being minutes, 10-minute units, hours and days, afigure-advance mechanism, a time indicator mechanism, a plurality ofindication means each having series of numerals thereon to indicaterespective units of time, said indicator mechanism having moving meansfor moving selected ones of said indication means intermittently andinstantaneously a predetermined distance in response to operation ofsaid motor and said clutch relays in cooperative relation with eachother, said figure-advance mechanism having actuating means respondingto said moving means for actuating selected ones of said clutch relayson the basis of the operation of said moving means in moving selectedones of said indication means, said figure-advance mechanism including aplurality of switch means each corresponding to one of said timeelements and each connected to one of said clutch relays for actuatingthe one of said clutch relays corresponding to the next higher timeelement and said time indicator means, said figure-advance mechanismincluding advancing means responsive to said moving means for actuatingeach of said switch means once each time the moving means for actuatingeach of said switch means once each time the moving means senses thatthe clutch relay corresponding to the same time element has operated anumber of times equal to the next higher time element, the highestnumeral for the hour indication being 12, said figure-advance mechanismincluding a shift relay for shifting between indications of morning andafternoon being connected in parallel with said relay for days, saidrelay for days being actuated through said switch means corresponding tothe hours, said figure-advance mechanism including shift switch means inseries with said relay for days, said shift switch means being heldalternately its on and off position in association with said relay formorning or afternoon indications.
 13. An electric timepiece as claimedin claim 12, wherein said shift relay for a morning and afternoonindication comprises a shifting pawl wheel arranged to operate rotatablyand a shift cam secured to said pawl wheel, said shift switch beingengaged to said shift cam to be held alternately an open and closedposition.
 14. An electric timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidindication means includes indication plates, indication tapes with thenumerals, and illumination means having an electroluminescent materialprovided at a reverse side of said indication plates; a transparentportion on each of said indication tapes, said plates, tapes andillumination means being aligned one behind the other.
 15. An electrictimepiece comprising a motor operating according to pulse signals to beapplied at given intervals, a plurality of clutch relays each responsiveto operation of said motor and each associated with one of a pluralityof respective unit time elements, a figure-advance mechanism, a timeindicator mechanism, a plurality of indication means having a series ofcharacters thereon to indicate respective units of time said indicatormechanism having moving means for moving selected ones of saidindication means intermittently and instantaneously a predetermineddistance in response to operation of said motor and clutch relays incooperative relation with each other, said figure-advance mechanismhaving actuating means responding to said moVing means for actuatingselected ones of said clutch relays on the basis of the operation ofsaid moving means in moving selected ones of said indication means, saidtime indication means including endless tapes each having the numeralsthereon in a series, said indication means having means for illuminatingsaid endless tapes at their reverse sides.
 16. An electric timepiececomprising a motor operating according to pulse signals to be applied atgiven intervals, a plurality of clutch relays each responsive tooperation of said motor and each associated with one of a plurality ofrespective time elements, said time elements being minutes, 10-minuteunits, hours and days, a figure-advance mechanism, a time indicatormechanism, a plurality of indication means having a series of numeralsimpressed thereon to indicate means respective units of time, saidindicator mechanism having means for selecting and moving saidindication means intermittently and instantaneously a predetermineddistance in response to operation by said motor and clutch relays incooperative relation with said each other, said figure-advance mechanismhaving actuating means responding to said moving means for actuatingselected ones of said clutch relays on the basis of the operation ofsaid moving means in moving selected ones of said indication means, aplurality of corrector switches in series with said clutch relays foradvancing said clutch relays and thereby correcting erroneous indicationof corresponding time.
 17. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid figure-advance means enables the clutch relay means associated withtime length magnitude greater than the lowest magnitude in response tosaid moving means advancing said indication means of the next lowermagnitude to a predetermined character.
 18. A timepiece as claimed inclaim 17, wherein said predetermined character is the highest of thetime units of that magnitude.